India's cultural capital, Kolkata, is currently suffering a record heatwave, with temperatures reaching an intense 43°C, the highest level the city has seen in fifty years. The temperature broke all prior records and established a new standard for the city's climatic history, according to the Alipore observatory. The city's inhabitants are finding it more difficult to withstand the intense heat.

The highest recorded daytime temperature in nearby Salt Lake was 43.5°C, while Barrackpore in the North 24 Parganas district recorded an incredible 44.6°C. The thermometer registered a staggering 47.2°C in Kalaikunda in Paschim Medinipur, the state's highest temperature.  

The remainder of West Bengal has not been spared from the heatwave; temperatures in numerous districts have risen well beyond 40°C. With temperatures ranging from 43.6°C to 44.2°C, places like Krishnanagar, Bardhaman, Asansol, Purulia, Jhargram, and Sriniketan are all suffering greatly from the extreme heat. Strong solar insolation combined with dry westerly winds is what meteorologists believe is causing this extreme weather.

West Bengal's southern and western districts are predicted to experience the heatwave until May 3. Severe weather is predicted in Purulia, Bankura, Birbhum, Jhargram, Murshidabad, Paschim Medinipur, Purba Bardhaman, and Paschim Bardhaman.   

The meteorological department gives some hope despite the current intensity by forecasting the chance of rain starting on Sunday. This predicted shift is linked to the possible infiltration of moisture from the Bay of Bengal, which may provide much-needed respite to the arid area.

Health officials have issued advisories advising the public to take appropriate precautions due to the extremely high temperatures. It is advised to wear light, breathable clothing, avoid direct sunlight during peak hours, and stay hydrated to prevent heat-related illnesses.   

The recent high temperatures in Kolkata are indeed a result of a wider climatic trend. The Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC) estimates that, in the worst-case scenario for greenhouse gas emissions, Kolkata's annual mean temperature could rise by as much as 4.5°C by the end of the century relative to pre-industrial levels.

Given that the city has already experienced a notable rise in surface air temperature from 1950 to 2018, greater than many other cities and regions worldwide, this is a major increase. Additionally, the IPCC assessment projects a significant rise in short-duration intense rainfall events, even though the overall amount of rainfall in the city and its surrounding areas may only slightly increase.   

You might also be interested in - India’s first underwater metro inaugurated by PM Modi in Kolkata